More information : (Area TL 39202368) To the south of Gatesbury is a long
narrow field between the railway and the river, which is filled
with pits and irregular ditches and was obviously intensively
occupied during the Roman period.
It lies outside the limits of the Roman town (TL 32 SE 1).
The ditch sections can be seen in the river bank, which has
been recut (probably in medieval times) and contains pottery of
all dates from first to fourth century.
In this area there are remains which may be those of a Roman
bath building. (1)
Pottery sherds from various positions in this area in the
possession of M Stacey and J Holmes. (2)
The building which may be a Roman bath house is at TL 39212362. It has been exposed by river erosion and field levelling. The building's use is conjectural, but it is similar in construction to a bath house. (3)
The indicated area is under short pasture with an irregular
surface but neither pits nor ditches are identifiable
similarly the adjacent river has again been widened and
deepened and no ditch sections can now be recognised. Extensive
perambulation produced 3 fragments of 3rd/4th century pottery
and a quantity of oyster shells.
The remains of the building cannot be found. The present resident
farmer, although aware of the Iron Age/Roman antecedents of
Braughing cannot recall finds in this area. (4)
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